Best tube integrated amp from $500-1200

JimBRICK
JimBRICK Posts: 1,543
edited December 2010 in 2 Channel Audio
I'm going to be building a new 2 channel rig soon and I'm going to start with an amp and build around that. What tube amp do you guys think would be a solid foundation to start with. New or used in the $500-1200 price range?

I had the av123 sp3 and loved it before. I just wanna know what else I can look into as well.

thanks in advance
2 CHANNEL
Speaker - Klipsch Heresy II
Under construction
Post edited by JimBRICK on
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  • AudioGenics
    AudioGenics Posts: 2,567
    edited December 2010
    CAYIN

    http://www.aurumcantususa.com/product_list.asp?Category_1=26
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited December 2010
    Dunno what kind of speakers you'll be driving,but my votes would be,,used of course,,Manley Stingray or a Rogue Cronus.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • markmarc
    markmarc Posts: 2,309
    edited December 2010
    I would highly recommend Vista Audio I-34 if you go new, as they are never found used.

    I used to own the SP3 (loved it BTW), and I-34 bested it in many ways, resolution is greater, mids are more natural with less syrup.
    Review Site_ (((AudioPursuit)))
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    2 Ch. System
    Amplifiers: Parasound Halo P6 pre, Vista Audio i34, Peachtree amp500, Adcom GFP-565 GFA-535ii, 545ii, 555ii
    Digital: SimAudio HAD230 DAC, iMac 20in/Amarra,
    Speakers: Paradigm Performa F75, Magnepan .7, Totem Model 1's, ACI Emerald XL, Celestion Si Stands. Totem Dreamcatcher sub
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited December 2010
    Might be just me, but I would settle on speakers first,so I know what I need to drive them with.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited December 2010
    tonyb wrote: »
    might be just me, but i would settle on speakers first,so i know what i need to drive them with.

    + 1,000
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  • JimBRICK
    JimBRICK Posts: 1,543
    edited December 2010
    these are the speakers I was looking at
    http://www.martinlogan.com/products/purity
    purity_dark_cherry.jpg
    2 CHANNEL
    Speaker - Klipsch Heresy II
    Under construction
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited December 2010
    Nice Jim, but do you think a 500 buck integrated will do these up proper ?
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,775
    edited December 2010
    The Purity's have a built in 200 watt per channel amp. As far as I know, there is no way to bypass it. It has line level and speaker level inputs, but uses the internal amp either way.

    You only need a pre-amp.
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  • polkfarmboy
    polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
    edited December 2010
    Buy a pair of used source for $1000 used

    I have them and love them

    You could buy vistas for $4500 new or $2300 used or just wait like me until march for the new electromotion that has the same size of electrostat panel as the vista but only costs $2000 new
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2010
    markmarc wrote: »
    I would highly recommend Vista Audio I-34 if you go new, as they are never found used.

    I used to own the SP3 (loved it BTW), and I-34 bested it in many ways, resolution is greater, mids are more natural with less syrup.

    Probably because they sell about 1/100th of the SP3.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited December 2010
    I would consider some of the Joule gear.

    RT1
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited December 2010
    All you need is a good tube pre as they are self powered as mentioned above.
    Jake
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited December 2010
    zingo wrote: »
    All you need is a good tube pre as they are self powered as mentioned above.

    Was trying to get him to come to that conclusion, you spoiled my fun man.:biggrin:
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter